When you’re under fire for your record of voting on a tax, it helps to have none other than Grover Norquist come to your defense.

Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, issued a letter today supporting Rep. Larry Liston of Colorado Springs, who is engaged in a tough GOP state Senate primary with Owen Hill.

Hill distributed a flier that claimed Liston “supported the largest tax increase in Colorado history, Referendum C, then claimed to be against it.” Norquist said his group investigated and found the claims “that you voted for Ref. C to be patently false.”

The official record of the vote shows Liston voted against Ref C, which went to voters that November. What Liston voted for was a motion to adopt a conference committee report regarding the bill. Owen could not be reached for comment.

WASHINGTON — Republican Reps. Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman came down hard on anti-tax hero Grover Norquist after he told The Washington Post editorial board that allowing Bush-era tax cuts to expire on the wealthy would not violate his famous no tax pledge signed by all four Colorado’s House Republicans.

Norquist said that allowing the tax cuts to expire in a couple years would raise taxes on some people, but would not technically violate his Americans for Tax Reform pledge. (Listen to audio of the editorial board interview here.)

House Republicans slammed that position Thursday, including Reps. Lamborn and Coffman, saying Norquist has “obviously” been in Washington too long.

“I strongly disagree with Grover Norquist who has obviously has spent too much time in Washington, D.C.,” Coffman said. “If public policy dictates that someone pays more money in taxes without an increase in income, then, at least outside the beltway, this is known as a tax increase.”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.